Bhawana
(also spelled as Bhowana) is the capital of Bhawana tehsil and a city
of Punjab, Pakistan. It is located on the bank of the Chenab river.
Bhawana was announced as a tehsil, or sub-division and Chiniot also got
the level of district when Mian Shahbaz Sharif (CM of Punjab) came to
Chiniot on February 2, 2009. Before that, Bhawana was a sub-tehsil of
Chiniot tehsil and Chiniot tehsil was a part of the Jhang district.
Name and etymology
Bhawana is also spelled as "Bhowana", being written in Urdu and Punjabi
language as "بهوانه". Its name's suffix, "ana", refers to the "Sial".
"Ana" is a suffix that appears in the name of every sub-tribe or sept of
the main Sial-Rajputs, such as Jabuana, Rahmuana and Chuchkana. Bhawana
(tribe) is also with the same name of a prominent sub-tribe, or group,
of Sial families. In fact, many Sial families still reside in this area.
History
Bhawana is one of the ancient cities of Pakistan. The Mughal Emperor
Zahir-ud-din Babur also mentions the area in his book the Tuzk-e-Babari
for its fine architecture and excellently handicrafted jharoka windows
to many of the old havelis (manors) and other buildings of the
old/medieval town.
By Muhammad Hanif
